Donna is an art teacher committed to inspiring future generations of art enthusiasts. She aspires to bring awareness to students that art comes in myriad forms and that the art world is vast.
There is so much world history to explore in art class along with art techniques, vocabulary and iconic imagery. Donna is dedicated to exploring our creative connections to the distant past and tracing the evolution of art techniques from their ancient origins to contemporary times. She also reveals how specific art forms vary from culture to culture and how they inspire and inform the artistic vision of contemporary artists from specific regions.
Donna incorporates the Studio Habits of Mind along with the philosophies of TAB or Teaching for Artistic Behavior into her curriculum. These concepts teach students to approach their classroom art practice as they would in a collective art studio. Their artistic process is guided by the Studio Habits of Mind which include: Envision, Develop Craft, Engage and Persist, Stretch and Explore, Express, Observe, Reflect and Understand Art Worlds. These methods increase student agency and encourage independence.
Donna believes in the importance of students seeing themselves, their heritage and their values reflected in the art of today. She also spotlights careers in art and the possibilities available to artists in today’s world.
Art class allows students to live in the moment as they engage in their personal work and explore materials. Essentially, Donna wishes to promote the academic aspects of art while providing a designated time to wonder, dream and tap into the artist within.